The Concept of Social Pedagogy in the Field of Social Work

Abstract

• Summary: Social pedagogy is a virtually unknown concept and practice within the Anglo-Saxon world, yet it has considerable importance on the European mainland. This article provides an analysis of the concept of social pedagogy from the point of view of social work. The analysis traces the intricacy of social pedagogy by looking at its historical background and the different contexts in which the concept is used. • Findings: This analysis has been enormously influential in determining that identifying social pedagogy too closely with social work may hinder the development of social pedagogy as a discipline that forms a part of social work education. • Applications: The concept of social pedagogy can be manifested in several national traditions and therefore used in different contexts. The combination of social and pedagogical points of view can be integrated in social work education, adopted to produce theoretical constellations to form a special branch of study and used to organize social help.